Work holder



Patented Nov. 9, 1943 WORK HOLDER Clyde 'W'alt'er Clark, Dearborn,.Mi'c-h; Application October 16, 1942;. serialzno-riczma (crass-12;)

6 Claims.

This application relates to-work supports;

When-1 contemplated using:- the hardnesstester ofmy application, Serial No. 384,083; filed M'arch 19, 194-1, for testing the hardness of 'a work piece in the form of a thin sheet metal tube, 1' recognized the necessity of bracing the workpiece against distortion due to the impact of the testing point thereon, and of transferring theyimpact through the work-- piece tothe-base of the machine, and therefore have devised the work support herein disclosed, which not only supports the work: piece but also braces it against that impact, transferring impact from the testing point to the based the machine;

Foran understanding of that work support, reference is made tothe-- appended drawings. In these drawings,

Figs. 1 and. 2 are side and head'on views of a hardness tester with thework support therein.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged details. l Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig; 3 The drawingsv disclose a-penetrator type testing *machine whose- C shaped frame I" has a l'oad 2 connected by a link 3 to aload beam 4 whose deflection is-measured' by an indi'cator 53 A handle Boperateson the beam 4 througha linkage T to lift it andthento release it to drop under load;

Operated: by a'hand wheel'9 is a work support or elevating screw" l ll which supports the work whose upper surface-is to be penetratedby the penetrating point H- connected to and moved down for testing by the loadbeam tundenloaded impact; The work piece l2, disposed between the screw l0 and the point H; is in the form ofa hollow tube having one end openand the other end closed and flanged, as shownat Hi The work piece is supported by a fixture it; which is the novel element hereof, resting on a table 16' on the upper end of screw l0;

Thefixture I5 is intended to support the-work piece 12 in a horizontal-position between the'upper end of screw l0 and the lower endof the point I I and to p'ermit the work piece to be moved horizontally so that different portions thereof may be penetrated by thepoint' H while supported on the upperend of the screw HI: Thefixture is also intended" to brace the work" piece against: the impact of'point ll thereon.

The fixture rests on a table I6, threaded onto theupper end of: the screw lfl'so as tobe secured thereto. Itcomprises a: bracketl8": resting on and secured: to the ta'ble'zl 6 by screws (not shown) having; an'wupwardly extendingl portion: 20 split: to form a yoke in; which: is; slid'ably disposed a hollow tube 212 ,1a-ten to" bedescribed imdetaill with a suitable screw 231i clamping theltubei Z2 inv anydesired location withrespect to the braoket l8. 7

A180 secured to the bracket l8! in: any; suitable manneris a steady rest including; an; amm Z6 which is mounted a 13051128,- the lattien' being adjustable vertically and clamped place byc'a screw 38": The post pivotally supports: at. V rest 3 2 withthe pivot; so formed. thafithe V rest 32 may swing towards: the bracket- I8 from: itsver tical' position butmay netswin g= in=the opposite direction. A leaf-spring 3'4 secured to: the arm 26 tends tohold th V rest 3 2 in itis=vei ticalx pox sition when the V rest i'salready-"iii that'posi tion. The steady rest fi liolils the worlspiece [2 steady, as canclearly beseen,- and be collapsed so as to fi eethat work: piece Whem it is moved liorizontally= so its? flange M an proaches the bracket P8, the names sei viiirg: tii kick over the V rest 32 and thus collapss the steadyresti I Formed integrally witlrthe -braclset- [*8 isa body portion 35 whichimmovaiily mounts a barrel 38*. slidabl'y mounted within tlfis=bar1=el i5 3 horizonttally movable spreading means: the fo'nn of a we'd'ging' pin or red 40 having tapered slbts fl for causing spreading; movement of? external brace means in" the fonm offipins Mi, M3, in: optposite directions: away ftom the center: line or axis: of the rod 411i 'I' lii lower pin: W seats 1 int a crossbar'd'fi whose endsrare fastenedtby dovetails 41 to the \lower: ends: ofi ax U: shaped stirrup 4'8, slidably mounted in guide"- slots 5 0? of the? body 36, so; as to. move vertically: The bishtf 571 of the. stirrup surrounds the work: piece [-22 and has;ae.holez 5 4 for't'l'iextesting'pnint'. I It Thefwork piece; t2 may-l therefore be positioned betweenzthe uppien pin: tit-and the-.bight 521th be held implace without distortions of. the, work; piece; with the .holding' action provided-z byr'the oppositeamoveiments ofi the? pins 414L45 asmotivatedibyrthe horie zontal movement of the Wade s rod-*7 ML.

Such horizontal movementlofithewedge rodi 40 'isrvprovide'd by meansxof a quadranfiaorxleven 56 whose toothed p'orticnz 58 extends thrcxughiaahori zcntal slots (i511 OfithwbE-HBIKWISO: as tOLmESh with rack teeth: 62: formed on the'wed'ge row 40'} the lever 56'? being: mounted on" a vertical pivot pin 8:! of: the liody: 35% A suitable: banking: spring 65? within thev barrel abuts? the rack toothiend of the-wedge rod 60,.tendingtoumovethe rddilfidn such a direction that it spreads: the/M115, such: movement? of: the rods We however, Being under: the: controlaof theaquaiirantzzon-levezr 56E 7 As has previously been stated, the vertical portion 28 of the bracket I8 supports a horizontal tube 22 in a clamped position, with clamping provided by the screw 24. The free end of this tube 22 is intended to be positioned within the work piece I2. The tube 22 has a free end portion of its interior threaded, as at '10, for adjustably re ceiving the threaded hollow sleeve portion 12 of a slide plate I4 having vertical slots I6 receiving verticallymoving internal brace means in the form of plungers 'I8 held in place in the slot It by a cap plate 88 fastened to the slide plate I4 by suitable screws 82. The plates I4 and 88 have alined center holes 8-4 communicating with the slots I6 and into which may project the plungers off to. move pins 4 3-45 and stirrup 52 and plung- 18, whereby the latter may be spread or caused to move oppositely away from the center line of tube 22 by the wedge end 86 of a spreading means or wedge rod 88 disposed within the hollow tube 22 and passing through the alined center holes 84 of the threaded portion I2 and thebody slide plate I4 and the cap plate 89.

A hand wheel or nut 89, keyed against longitudinal movement with respect to tube 22 is threaded onto a threaded portion 92 of the wedge rod, the latter having a slot or keyway 94 receiving a key 96 of the tube 22, so as to be non-rotat able therein. The, hand wheel therefore functions as a nut, having no horizontal movement of its own, but instead when rotated, it causes horizontal movement of the wedge rod with respect to the tube 22 against which the hand wheel reacts. This is a conventional construction in devices of this character, a similar hand wheel being used on testing machines for adjusting the position of the elevating screw I0.

Adjustment of the longitudinal position of the wedge rod 88 by the hand wheel 89 with respect to the tube 22 controls transverse or vertical sliding of the plungers I8 with respect to the work piece I2..

The threads IO-I2 and the yoke 28 permit 'adjustment of the plungers 18 so that they may aline with the upper pin 45 and the stirrup hole 54 and thus be directly in line with penetrating point I I, whereby; when the penetrating point I I is dropp d under load, there will be no possibility .of collapsing the work piece I2 under that impact. At the same time, however, once the fixof the 'ture has been adjusted to a particular job, that is to say ,once the plungers I8 and the stirrup 52 with its pins 44, 45 and its hole 54 have" been alined, there is required nothing more than manipulation of the quadrant or lever 56 and the hand wheel 89 connected to the wedge rod 88 for causing the'stirrup 52, the pins 44, 45 and the plungers I8 to move vertically to and from the work piece I2 either to engage that tube for bracing it or to free that tube to permit it to be moved horizontally for presenting various portions-thereof to the penetrating point II, such operations being formed easily and quickly merely by the manipulation of the quadrant lever 55 and the hand wheel '89.

For steadying the work piece I2 at the end thereof opposite the flange I4 there is slidably mounted on the tube 22 a cone or collar 98. A

suitable ball check and spring arrangement, not

shown, within collar 98 cooperates with grooves 99 of the tube 22 to hold the collar 98 against free movement with respect to the tube. When the collar 98 is fitted into the end of the work piece I2 it steadies that end.

ers I8 to their free positions, the Work piece I! prevent various portions thereof to the hole 54 of. the stirrup and to the penetrating point II.

When a test is to be made at a particular portion of the tube, the quadrant lever 56 and the hand wheel-'89 may be manipulated, whereupon the work piece I! will be reinforced and braced against the impact of the penetrating point II and then thetest is made. The work piece I2 is thereafter freed by reverse movement of the quadrant lever 56 and the hand wheel 89 and the workpiece I2 may be moved again horizontally with respect to the penetrating point I I.

If the movement of the work piece I2 is great enough its flange M will kick over the steady rest 25 and render it inoperative;

;The tapers on the wedges 4286 are so flat that there is practically no horizontal compo nent to the load of point II; thus all the load is taken by the lower pin 44 bearing on cross bar 46 of U strap 48 which rests on the body or casting 36-48 in turn resting on table I6. All the load from spindle point II is on the center line, of spindle point I I, because that point II is aligned with plungers l8, and pins 44-45.

Now having describedthe work support hereof, reference should be had to the claims which follow: I r

I claim: 7

1. For use in a machine having a work support and a load means adapted to apply with downward impact a load to thework, a fixture for holding a work piece in the form of a tube on the upper end of the worksupport below the load means, and for bracing the workpiece; against the impact of the load means comprising ,a. bracket adapted to be secured to the Wwork support, a tube on the bracket extending into the workpiece, internal brace means thereon movable transversely of the tube and-work piece, when spread, to engage the work pieceinternally at diametrically opposed pointsy-andj brace it, spreading means movably mounted within the tube and positionedbetween the internal brace means and movable axially of the tube and work piece for spreading the internal brace; means, manual means for moving the last mentioned spreading means axially of'the work piece and tube, the last named spreader means and the bracket forming a thrust receiving abutment and seat for that one ofthe internal brace means which engages the upper part of the Work piece internally from below and thus supports it and receives the impact of the'load means. 7 v

2. For use in a machine having a work support and a load means adapted to apply withrdownward impact a' load to the work, "a fixture for holding a work piece in the form of a "tube fon the upper end of the work support below the load means, and for bracingv thework piece against the impact of the load means comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to, the work support, astirrup movably' guided on the bracket for partially surrounding the work piece, external brace means within the stirrup movable, when spread, to move the stirrup down to the work piece and to move up against the work piece for bracing it, the external brace means and stirrup bracing the work piece externally and at diametrically opposite points, the stirrup having a hole at one of said points through which the load means may pass to engage the work piece externally, the load means impact being thus at an upper point diametrically opposite the lower point of external bracing of the work piece, spreading means movably mounted on the bracket and positioned between the external brace means and movable axially of the work piece for spreading the external brace means, manual means for moving the spreading means axially of the work piece, with the spreader means and the bracket forming a thrust receiving abutment and seat for that one of the external brace means which engages the lower part of the work piece externally from below and thus supports it and receives the impact of the load means.

3. For use in a machine having a work support and a load mean adapted to applywith downward impact a load to the work, a fixture for holding a work piece in the form of a tube on the upper end of the work support below the load means, and for bracing the work piece against the impact of the load means comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the work support, a tube on the bracket extending into the work piece, internal brace means thereon movable transversely of the tube and work piece, when spread, to engage the work piece internally at diametrically opposed points and braceit, spreading means movably mounted within the tube and positioned between the internal brace means and movable axially of the tube and work piece for spreading the internal brace means, manual means for moving the last mentioned spreading means axially of the work piece and tube, the last named spreader means and the bracket forming a thrust receiving abutment and seat for that one of the internal brace means which engages the upper part of the work piece internally from below and thus supports it and receives the impact of the load means, a stirrup movably guided on the bracket for partially surrounding the work piece, external brace means within the stirrup movable, when spread, to move the stirrup down to the work piece and to move up against the work piece for bracing it, the external brace means and stirrup bracing the work piece externally and at diametrically opposite points, the stirrup having a hole at one of said points through which the load means may pass to engage the work piece externally, the load means impact being thus at an upper point diametrically opposite the lower point of external bracing of the work piece, spreading means movably mounted on the bracket and positioned between the external brace means and movable axially of the work piece for spreading the external brace means, manual means for moving the spreadin means axially of the work piece, with the spreader means and the bracket forming a thrust receiving abutment and seat for that one of the external brace means which engages the lower part of the work piece externally from below and thus supports it and receives the impact of the load means.

4. For use in a machine having a work support and a load means adapted to apply with ing a bracket adapted to be secured to the work support, a tube on the bracket extending into the work piece, internal brace means thereon movable transversely of the tube and work piece, when spread, to engage the work piece internally at diametrically opposed points and brace it, spreading means movably mounted within the tube and positioned between the internal brace means and movable axially of the tube and work piece for spreading the internal brace means, manual means for moving the last mentioned spreading means axially of the work piece and tube, the last named spreader means and the bracket forming a thrust receiving abutment and seat for that one of the internal brace means which engages the upper part of the work piece internally from below and thus supports it and receives the impact of the load means, a stirrup movably guided on the bracket for partially surrounding the work piece, external brace means within the stirrup movable, when spread, to move the stirrup down to the work piece and to move up against the work piece for bracing it, the external brace means and stirrup bracing the work piece externally and at diametrically opposite points, the stirrup having a hole at one of said points through which the load means may pass to engage the work piece externally, the load means impact being thus at an upper point diametrically opposite the lower point of external bracing of the work piece, spreading means movably mounted on the bracket and positioned between the external brace means and movable axially of the work piece for spreading the external brace means, manual means for moving the spreading means axially of the work piece, with the spreader means and the bracket forming a thrust receiving abutment and seat for that one of the external brace means which engages the lower part of the work piece externally from below and thus supports it and receives the impact of the load means, the internal brace means being longitudinally adjustably positioned so as to be movable into transverse alinement with the lower external brace means and the stirrup hole.

5. In combination, a work support, a load device above it, a hollow tube between them arranged horizontally, plungers within the tube engaging it internally and alined with the load device and each other, pins below the tube engaging it from below and engaging the work support and alined with the plungers and each other and the work support, whereby the load device, the plungers, the pins, and the work support are all alined.

. 6. In combination, a work support, a load device above it, a hollow tube between them arranged horizontally, plungers within the tube engaging it internally and alined with the load device and each other, pins below the tube engaging it from below and engaging the work support and alined with the plungers and each other and the work support, whereby the load device, the plungers, the pins, and the work sup-' port are all alined, and means for separating the plungers and pins so that they firmly engage the tube and the work support, while alined.

l CLYDE WALTER CLARK. 

